There is a lot of focus on what a Christian should or should not read in today’s society. We often are told that we should not read secular fiction because they do not show Gods work. I would disagree with this idea.
In 2nd Samuel, the prophet Nathan tells David a story about a poor man whose lamb was stolen and killed by a rich man to feed a traveler.(2 Samuel 12:1-4 English Standard Version). Nathan told this story so David could understand better what he had done. We can also look at the parables of Jesus, none of which were true stories. Although these stories are fictitious, they were written to create an atmosphere that makes the reader think about their actions and how we should treat others.
I think there is a lot that we can learn from non-Christian fiction as well. When we look at fiction, such as Lord of the Rings, many Christians will not read them. Some will say it is because it a fantasy, or because it involves magic and demons. There is so much more that can be taken away from the story. The books exhibit loyalty to your friends and neighbors. We are shown the struggles between good and evil inside a person, and we are shown that faith in something can be real. Stories just like that are found all throughout the Bible.
I do think many books out there that are not appropriate for a Christian life, and it is important to know the difference. If we only limit ourselves to only Christian writings, we, in turn, limit ourselves from many great works of